FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

—Wolves were all but faded from the world. Noel could put that fact from his mind most of the time. However, occasionally the endangered status of his species sat like a heavy stone in his stomach. One paw in his white lab coat, he scraped another claw against the glass window. It left a thin scratch, but he remained focused on the forest beyond.

Perhaps it was only nature’s course that his kind disappeared. A species of artificial origin, the anthropomorphic wolf wondered if his species had any place in the world, to begin with. Regardless, the slow extinction was a strange, palpable doom. He could grow to old age peacefully but would leave no progeny or history to follow him. Their constructed genome had reached its limits, and fertile instance only one in a hundred. But Noel was always stubborn and foolish, even as a pup; extinction was not something he would face lying down.

His watch beeped suddenly, making him jump as if shaken from sleep. Coffee break over, he poured the almost-full cup into the garbage and turned back. Tail swishing behind him, he entered the busy hallway and started back towards his lab. Gaze turned ahead; he pretended not to notice the many eyes upon him. Still thought of as savage and bestial, his kind rarely wore the coats in these facilities.

Noel made an effort to dress well, white clothes pressed and pristine. He maintained his red-brown fur similarly, trimmed and kempt where exposed. His yellow eyes drifted slowly across the crowd, standing a few inches taller than most. A few white fangs showing as he smiled were his only tell at the façade of appearance. Though not outright barred, the few pearly spikes revealed the frustration he always carried for his situation.

It did not bother him. Pride was always internal for him, and he had proven himself in his own mind. Snickers and looks from less-ambitious people were of no concern. Glimpses of jealousy from them made up for it, their eyes following him as he swiped into a higher-level lab.

—Sam jumped as the lab door opened suddenly. Though prohibited, she spent these moments alone smoking into one of the ventilation grates, an eye on the incredibly sensitive chemical detectors on the ceiling. The start made her swallow a mouthful of smoke, sending her into a coughing fit.

“Water go down the wrong tube?” Noel asked, a smirk on his muzzle as he entered. She nodded in response, still unable to speak. “Remember, food and drink aren’t allowed in the lab. There’s always a chance one of the bosses will check the cams,” he warned, gesturing towards the security cameras.

“I once- bekh-,” Sam began, a final cough cutting her off. “I caught two janitors fucking in here a month ago, and they’re still working.” She tossed the smoldering cigarette into the garbage, stretching as she prepared to return to work. “Truth of the matter is that they don’t care. This is trial four, we either make our miracle drug, or it’s back to the lower floors.”

“You sound weirdly ok with that,” Noel muttered, almost baring his fangs at the thought of working under other researchers again.

“Just that I know better than to kill myself over things I can’t control,” she said, looking over her notepad. “We put everything we had into this. But it will always come down to the unpredictable factors of untested chemicals. It works, or it doesn’t.”

“Maybe, but I feel better to think I can change things,” he chuckled, checking the centrifuge as it finished.

“That’s bad for your blood pressure.”

“I’ll make up for it. One way or another, we’ve earned a vacation after this.”

Noel examined the vials, centrifuge still humming. While he did, she checked the computers to make sure the chemical’s integrity remained. Beside her eye-catching partner, Sam was far more common in appearance. Her hair was cut relatively short and tied tightly behind her in a ponytail. She had delicate features that suggested a caretaker, an appearance hardly matched by her odd mix of detachment and determination.

Where Noel wanted to prove to himself that he could save the world, she saw her work more as a calling that she could not fail. Regardless of what motivated them, they both had personal and unwavering dedication. Their differed in how their experiences inspired them.

The two worked on a project designed to treat infertility. More than an average hormonal supplement, they sought an epigenetic cure. By repairing degraded and damaged DNA, they could mend both internal organs and genetic defects. While potentially revolutionary, the substances used were unpredictable and in their infancy. Even so, it was a ray of hope. Noel and his kind were created flawed, little mistakes compounding with each generation. In their work, he saw a chance to set things right again. If successful, they would be one step closer to the natural purity of a species that actually evolved. At the very least, it could aid their fertility crisis and stave off extinction.

Sam was no less desperate to see themselves successful. Some believed her stake in the outcome just as personal as Noel’s, also trying something broken within herself. She understood why; when one has a sob story, it becomes difficult for anyone to see past it. But hers was a story of victory, not tragedy. Well… ‘victory’ assuming they could make their miracle drug.

Growing up in a nowhere town, she never expected to do any better than own the family gas station. Those prospects somehow managed to drop even lower when, at sixteen, a boyfriend got her pregnant and skipped town. While her life was still in chaos, things took an unexpected turn. Due to a genetic condition, the pregnancy terminated and she wound up in the hospital.

To this day, Sam did not know if she was happy with the way things ended. She hadn’t wanted children, and it certainly saved her future, but thinking about it always left her with confused feelings. Regardless, that time she spent in the hospital and looking into her condition sparked something new within her. Curiosity and drive hitherto unknown now burned within her, pushing her to study and work until she found herself in the premiere lab for genetics research.

When others heard of that past, they figured that it was the reason she worked on such a project, looking to fix her own condition, much like Noel beside her. No, her time in the hospital may have initiated her interest, but she had no desire for kids or cures. She figured, once a person knew something about you, they came to see it as defining you. In truth, she pushed herself because success and science were all that separated her from that backwoods teenager.

“Sam,” Noel called out, snapping her from her daze. “The slip is almost boiling; don’t spoil the batch.” She pulled the tube from the burner, relieved to see no oxidization forming within. Before losing its potency, she extracted the upper separated fluid and injected it into the greater solution. The catalyst provoked the body into a growth-state, swiftly morphing the body to match the newly repaired DNA.

It was an incredible process to observe. The slip provided the energy for and provoked change so quickly that she would have thought it magic. One rat was treated, its leg mangled in a fight a year before. Flesh crawled and shifted like a being its own, the leg reforming, fur and all, within only an hour. It could not consistently mend genes or complicated organs, but that was what their research hoped to accomplish.

—Tapping the screen, Noel fiddled with buttons until he got the neural sensor working. Though they had used it a few times before, the technology remained new and confusing to them. It only came into use after they noticed some behavioral changes among their lab rats.

He placed a wireless node on one of the rats. Squeaking loudly, the tiny creature squirmed and struggled in his grip. He chuckled at the animal, feeling its soft underside pushing against his sharp claws. It remained in his grasp until the monitor began beeping, several waves appearing across it to indicate brain waves.

“Sorry, little one,” he murmured, holding the rodent still enough to reveal its belly. He stuck it quickly with a needle and injected their current formula. Once completed, he pulled the tool free and released the animal. It scampered around the cage with renewed vigor, as though it had already forgotten the previous events. “No changes to brain waves so far,” he observed, brain waves not unlike the many control cases they had witnessed.

“Sometimes it takes a little,” Sam said, looking over records. “Within an hour, behavior breaks down with an increase in aggression and activity. However, reasoning and memory always suffer as a result.”

“Slightly increased activity in the hypothalamus,” he noted, seeing the waves spike in a small box in the corner of the screen. “All within expected levels,” he finished, knowing their treatment used mental maps to regenerate structures. In doing so, it stimulated areas associated with libido and breeding. Though they both knew this was a factor, seeing it proven on-screen was proof of their efforts.

Though he watched diligently, the rat’s brain waves changed little from their expected, elevated levels. To test the animal, he pressed a button, playing three tones in quick succession. It measured memory, the rat hurrying to push three pedals in its cage, the final releasing a treat. The test was completed no slower than usual.

“Was there anything different in this serum?” he asked, surprised to see its behavior unchanged. “Its mind is still intact.”

“Same as usual. Did you do anything different?”

“He’s got some neural scanners attached, but that couldn’t change things. Means it’s either genetic or environmental…” Noel pondered, watching as the rat scratched at its bedding. “Same cage as the other tests. Do we just have a super-rat?” he asked, ears raised curiously.

“This stuff changes DNA, shouldn’t affect individuals that differently,” Sam said, confusedly looking over their charts. “Are you sure there’s nothing different about the environment?” she asked, brow furrowed at the situation.

“Only the node, but I really don’t think that would—”

“It is the node.” Though he still shook his head slightly in disagreement. “Not the wire exactly, but it’s what we did because of the node!” she exclaimed, realization striking her like lightning. “We kept him alone so that others wouldn’t chew the wire. It’s the lack of interaction that’s different.”

“You might be right,” Noel said, tail wagging slightly as their answers seemed nearer. “Let’s prove that theory.” He gently plucked the animal from its cage, its claws scratching against the pads on his hands. Before it could squirm free, he dropped it into a larger space with others of its kind. He shood the other rats away as they tried to gnaw the wire, their specimen soon returning to its usual interactions and behavior. “No change,” he observed as he tapped the screen, tail falling with disappointment.

Sam held up a hand to signal to wait another minute. Noel nodded and stood back, waiting for anything worth noting. At first, the rat acted no different, scampering around, drinking quickly, and squabbling with other rats. However, the struggle soon shifted into a full fight of squeaks and bites.

He raised an eyebrow at this, white fangs showing. The rat was smaller than its opponents, but the energy and courage it felt propelled it past old limits. Once it had warded off the other males, a different instinct possessed it. With newfound swagger and vigor, it sniffed at the underside of a nearby female. Without a moment of hesitation, it climbed atop the girl and began pumping away.

Chuckling slightly, he turned his gaze back to the scanner screen, subconsciously providing a moment of privacy. Predictably, sections of the brain were extremely active during the act, others all but inert. As expected, the rat’s moment of intimacy lasted only a minute. However, afterwards, he noticed something off about the brain waves.

The rat’s pleasure centers spiked, dulling almost every other section. This was to be expected; it was what followed that surprised him. A strange murmur seemed to ripple across the many tabs on the screen, something changing or passing over much of the brain. The brain-state of the orgasm remained, fading slower than it naturally should have. What followed was a gradual decline and a residual buzz of euphoria.

“Sam, could you kan me our notes on the other rats?” Noel asked, so excited to find their answer that he used slang from his youth.

“For our current trial?” she asked, removing a folder. “D-1, 3, and 6 were was introduced back to group cage after injection; mental degeneration took place a few minutes afterwards… Likely after breeding,” she said, still searching for the answer Noel was closer to. “D-2 and 4 were kept isolated. It took a little longer, but they both curled up and degraded a few minutes later. We sedated 5, mental changes took place while she was unconscious.”

Gently running a claw up and down his muzzle, he tried to find the correcting thread between the cases. “What if 2 and 4 weren’t just curling up? All of them experienced a surge of libido; those two weren’t scared; they were pleasuring themselves.”

“If it’s sex, what happened to 5? Earlier trials showed degeneration wasn’t inevitable…” she murmured, tapping her clipboard. “The changes are based partially on mental image. Mind-state might block certain things. Thus, when weakened by extreme pleasure or sedatives, the drug focuses on the hypothalamus and reduces them to a more instinctual condition.”

Tail wagging, Noel paced excitedly as he chewed a pen, both forgetting the world as they were absorbed in the science. “If that’s true, then what about a paralytic? Curare would make them unable to move or stimulate themselves into that state, but it wouldn’t knock them out.”

“If you’re right, we might have our miracle.”

—Cheering in celebration, Sam raised her fists high. Noel’s call became something of a howl, their months of work finally fruitful. Three rats were paralyzed and kept breathing with makeshift respirators. An annoying procedure, but afterwards, the animals showed no sign of mental change. So long as they kept the hormone-maddened rats from mating, their treatment worked without any side effects.

Sam could not help but suppress a smile as she wrote down the results. She made a mental note to digitize the results once they had enough to confirm statistically. At the moment, it did not matter. In her gut, she could feel that they were successful; they had their cure.

It was late, and Noel was planning a trip to the bar to celebrate their achievements. As she packed up her things, her hand found a packet of cigarettes in her pocket. She remembered Noel’s warning, but she felt a need like a strange thirst. Who would it hurt? After such a success, she had earned a reward.

Before even inhaling, she felt a flood of relief. “I know it’s a bad idea,” she said preemptively, seeing Noel’s scolding look. She smirked and blew a cloud into the vent, taking a sharp drag as he took up a lookout position.

“Boss, boss!” he warned, tail and ears straight with nervousness.

She threw the cigarette away swiftly, lit ashes cast into the bin. They waited a moment in silence as one of the administrators passed. The entire time, she held her breath, hoping the man would not enter and see the wisp of smoke rising from the waste. Fortunately, the administrator walked past without pause, allowing the two a relieved breath. “Let’s get going. This is a victory,” she congratulated, pocketing her pack. Perhaps it’s too risky to continue in the lab.

“Noel, that’s all you can handle?” she mocked, shooting back another whiskey. Though she was undoubtedly feeling the numbing haze of the liquor, her measured façade remained. They sat in the corner of the bar. Her chin rested in her palm to maintain stability. No matter whether they were strangers or friends, she dared not show weakness or lack of control.

“Never built tolerance,” Noel muttered, his head hung so low that his nose touched the table. Even his fur seemed to droop as he fought to keep his eyes open, nose occasionally twitching. “Some of us don’t make a habit of poisoning ourselves.”

“Come on, didn’t you go to college? This is lesson number one,” she laughed, her giggle a note uncontrolled.

“You clearly went to college with a different intent than I,” he spat, taking one last shot glass and dumping it down his muzzle, spilling more than a little into his fur.

“Yet we both ended up in the same place.”

With a grunt, he folded his arms atop the table and buried his face in them. His ears twitched in annoyance as though trying to sleep, yet his voice suggested he was fighting to stay awake. “Hardly! That was mostly my work, and you know it,” he said, more mirth than energy in his voice. However, it was hard to tell legitimate anger with his monotone tone.

“Tell yourself whatever you need,” she chuckled. Though she knew he did respect her, she did not need his approval; her success was earned. Instead, she patted his shoulder and signaled to pay their tab. “Come on, you big hairball, it’s time to go home,” she laughed as he began to mutter incoherently. With a bit of coaxing, she was able to heft his arm over her shoulder. “Noel, do you walk to work?” she asked, receiving only an incomprehensible grumble. “Buddy, I don’t know where you live. You gotta help me out.”

“It’s not…” he muttered, stumbling sloppily with her before falling back into his stupor.

“My place it is, then…”

—Though only a few blocks away, the walk back took over an hour. Noel could hardly walk on his own, tripping over his tail as he tried. Sam tried to help but was far too drunk to herd him effectively. The strain left her sweating and tired, half-hefting a much larger and heavier person along. By the time they reached her apartment building, her soreness and frustration almost made her drop the wolf.

“You owe me big time,” she hissed, propping Noel up against a lamppost and stretching her back. She fumbled with her pockets, inebriation reaching her as she searched for her keys.

“Sorry… I don’t do that often,” he said, the walk providing him just enough lucidity to reply. Before he could speak again, a violent tremor shot through him, and he vomited onto the sidewalk. Beside them, a firetruck flew past with sirens blaring. “Why did I do this?”

“Because this is how friends celebrate an achievement,” Sam said, her annoyance piercing her voice. She finally managed to open the door and guide him in. Noel’s thoughts remained too scattered to find his way without guidance. The lights of the halls and elevator passing by in a blur.

“Your place is clean,” he mused, stumbling into the apartment.

“And I’d like to keep it that way,” she warned, retreating into the bathroom. He was left to glance about the room lazily. Painted a calming dark-teal, the walls were otherwise undecorated. What furniture there was seemed function over form, stormy-grey and so scuffles he wondered if they had ever been touched.

He chuckled. Though also frugal, his home was filled with trinkets and memorabilia from his large family. On the other hand, her place seemed more like a model, the desk in the corner seemingly the only thing used. He suspected she spent little time actually at the house. It was a drive he could respect, though seeing this house worried him.

Bracing himself against the walls, he made his way over to a shelf and searched through the photos. Most were scenery, impersonal pictures of landmarks and nature. Mixed among them was an older shot; Sam with diploma in hand, parents at her side, all three standing atop a mountain. She hardly seemed proud of the picture, the serene, natural images further forward.

“Got out of med-school; wanted another challenge. Climbed Mt. Washington while my parents drove up. Proudest day of their lives,” Sam said, stepping out after washing her face.

“Their?”

“I wasn’t done; still not.”

He laughed, retching slightly as he finished. “You’re more fucked up than me.”

“Usually, maybe. But not at this moment. Sit down before you fall,” she scolded, pulling him away and guiding him towards the couch beside the bed.

Instead, he fell onto the bed with a wave of dizziness. “You can keep raising the goal; it won’t ever make you happy. You need to find something simpler. At least I’m—”

“You want to save everyone, be Krypto the Superdog,” she muttered, trying to pull him up without any more psychoanalysis.

“That’s offensive,” he chuckled, taking hold of her arm without rising. Instead, he pulled her down, causing her to fall beside him on the bed. Strangely, it made her laugh, a sudden and unhinged chuckle that caught him off-guard. “You’re drunk,” he joked, joining her laughter.

Covering her face with her hands, she continued. “You’re one to talk. I don’t care if you think my reason is shallow or think I would be happier living another way. I don’t care if you’re right. We succeeded; I won.”

“Ya,” he murmured, unsure how to respond. “Thank you.” This response surprised her, and she opened her mouth as if searching for some sort of witty comeback. “I know it’s a job, and one not done for me or mine, but thank you.”

She rolled over and looked his way, wondering how much of this he would even remember in the morning. “While I’d love to take your thanks, you know we’re not done yet. Our drug has to go through real testing, whose funding we need to argue for. Then there’s the endless paperwork and meetings.”

“If it’s what we have to do,” Noel said. Even in his state, there was a lightness to his voice. He cared not what project he was assigned to afterwards; this cure was his focus and only goal. With it completed, he felt both a hope and a high that could carry him through all the trivialities that would be expected of him. He knew better than to trust optimism but could not keep it from his heart. Perhaps, I could afford to enjoy it, only for a short time.

“When we’re done, are you staying in research?” she asked, sinking deeper into the bed.

“Probably. I didn’t bust my ass to work administration or with annoying patients. You?”

“I’d like to lead projects instead of just being a grunt. Though I don’t think I’ve kissed the right asses yet,” she mused, wistfully watching the ceiling. “If all that works out, we could request to work together on whatever comes next.”

“Really?” he asked, remembering a great deal of squabbling from their venture.

“We challenge each other; it’s not a bad thing, but it is hard for us to find. Not many people have the stones to fight me, and most of them aren’t smart enough to make a point. I’d also like to think I’m useful enough to help you…” she offered, sitting up and facing him. He mirrored the gesture but kept his head turned down towards the floor.

He smiled at the strange mix of sincerity and guardedness, answering without hesitation. “It’s a rare thing to find a good partner. It’d be a shame for this to be our only project. But like you said, we have work to finish here.”

“Thank you,” Sam murmured, feeling something of a weight lifted from her shoulders. “You know, you focus only on work, and you’ll end up lonely.”

Noel laughed, putting an arm around her shoulder. She drew closer to his warmth, resting her head on his shoulder. “You’re drunk,” he chided, receiving a nod in response. For a while, they only sat there, pondering the night and the months before alike. Through his paw, he felt a gentle thrumming from her arm. He liked it, a slight yet vulnerable connection felt only through lifeblood. As he focused on it, the beats quickened. Only slightly at first, but the rising heat made him look down with concern.

—The hand on Sam’s shoulder felt strange, pads rough and claws slightly grazing her skin. Not unexpected for a wolf, but not unpleasant. She leaned into the touch, resting against Noel’s side. Fur brushed her cheek, and she could hear the hum of another’s blood and breath.

Perhaps it was the alcohol, but the sound and warmth seemed a magnet. She wanted to pull closer, even as they sat embraced. Some part of her worried that he only offered a friendly touch; another reasoned it away, taking note of his pulse beginning to raise. It’s stupid. Coworkers shouldn’t… To hell with it, we’re wasted, and life is short.

Pulling close and straightening her back, she met his gaze. He looked back, gold eyes both animal and intelligent, catching her for a moment. Reading her intention, he leaned in. They closed their eyes and surrendered their inhibitions… and kissed.

It lasted only a second, both quickly pulling away as they realized the suddenness of action. Noel shifted backwards, ears falling and tail pulling between his legs, seemingly afraid that he had misread. Sam covered her mouth, eyes darting around the room. The kiss was unlike others she had received, his wet nose leaving a cold dot on her cheek, fur tickling around her lips, and making her giggle.

“That’s not a good response,” he muttered, seeing her laugh. His face fell even further, clearly believing it all a mistake.

“No, no, no. I just wasn’t expecting that,” she assured, moving closer and taking his hands as comfort. Though he did not speak, he glanced up, asking silently if they ought to separate. “Life is short, Noel.” She pulled him closer, pressing against his chest and enjoying his scent. Soap strong enough to hide the chemicals they worked with, and beneath it a thicker lupine smell. She could only imagine how much more he could detect, his nose twitching slightly.

He leaned down, touching the end of his muzzle against her lips. His rough tongue flicked against her. Pulse fluttering, she returned the gesture, feeling the sharp points of his fangs. A quiet chur in his throat, he drew back and nuzzled against her neck, a show of affection far more natural to him.

As they stood, he cupped both paws against the small of her back. She smiled and rubbed her cheek against his, the action comforting and sensual, but not the usual ways. More so, she enjoyed the thickly-furred arms around her. The gesture was guarding, but an instinct in the back of her mind feared a large predator. It all injected a greater hint of excitement. Life is short.

She pressed her chest against him, slipping her hands up the back of his shirt; he shivered at the touch, lean but muscled against her finger. “Are you—?” he started, tail twitching with excitement. She nodded, both their breaths catching and quickening.

After almost a year of dancing around one another, it seemed this night alone would allow them to be so close. With only a few hours together, there was little time to waste. They pulled one another close as if burying themselves in the embrace. So close that every breath and heartbeat seemed shared between the two.

The forbidden nature of the sudden tryst only heightened it. Peers expected to remain professional. Moreover, they were different species, hardly expected to be seen together, let alone sharing such intimacy. Sam found it strange and wonderful, his claws pressed against her back. It was a reminder in equal parts of both his strength and restraint, his arms large and powerful enough to lift and hold her like a child.

She met his mouth again, feeling the ridges and fangs of his muzzle with her tongue. He pushed further, rougher and larger as he filled her mouth and sending a rush of heat through her. He pressed her against the wall, causing her to gasp as her breasts were pushed against him.

Taking the initiative, she worked her hands downward, feeling his tensed back muscles. Passing over the ridges of his spine, she reached his pants. With a flick, she undid the strap that held his tail within the clothes. The leverage released, and his pants fell to the floor. As he pressed forward, the intense heat of his member prodding her leg. He moved even further forward, his knee between her legs and against her privates.

It was a sensation her body responded to faster than her thoughts, hips grinding as a flush of pleasure filled them. He reached up and groped at her breast, a shudder escaping her throat as she leaned back and closed her eyes. At first, he simply massaged through her clothes but soon went further. Undoing a few buttons, he pulled her shirt apart and exposed her breasts to the air.

Sense returning for a moment, he paused and looked down, a hint of concern in his eyes as she searched for confirmation. But Sam felt unbound and was not about to let it end. She looked up and smiled, reaching forward and cupping his package. He flinched at the touch, his sheath and sack fuzzy and twitching at the contact. She grazed her fingers up and down, the base of her hand rubbing against his slick tip, now beginning to poke free.

Growling in anticipation, he reached up and shoved his hand beneath her bra. The rough touch of his paw pads brought her to sigh and shiver. She squirmed and closed her legs around his other hand, which he had cupped against her privates. His hot breath brushed against her neck, tickling and exciting her. A tingle of warmth and electricity coursed through her, his clawed fingers delicately dancing over her sensitive points.

Pushing against the wall, she felt a hint of resistance from him, hesitant to give up control. It ended immediately, and she spun them around, then fell backwards onto the bed. Her passage slick, she slowly presented bare skin to the wolf above her.

—Heart racing and skin flushed; Noel froze as he looked down at Sam. He wanted to lay down atop her, to let instinct take the wheels through the rest of the night. However, he had seen her as anything other than a colleague until earlier. They were also different species, a union like this rare and scorned in many places. Perhaps this is a mistake, our emotions as high as our blood alcohol.

She smiled up at him invitingly, her eyes showing more freedom and excitement than he had ever seen. Shut up, Noel, he chided internally, seeing that his trepidations were his alone. Attempting to reassure her, he forced a smile, showing his teeth. However, he quickly realized the expression unnerving on his muzzle. Dammit, just get out of your head.

Shaking his head, he lay forward and propped himself up beside her. While not much of a romantic, he had been with other women, though only of his own kind. He figured a human girl would enjoy most of the same things; at least, he hoped she would.

Drawing a gentle line up her shoulder, he dragged his nose lightly against her skin. He took the strap of her bra with the tip of his muzzle and guided it down her arm. Chuckling at the trick, she reached forward and undid his buttons. They swiftly removed one another’s clothing.

Her skin was smoother than he expected, tracing the curves of her body. She admired him with a curious eye; his form was equally strange to a human. He giggled as she ran her fingers through his fur, exploring his muscles and ribs. Air heavy with her scent, his nose twitched as he detected her pheromones and invigoration. My turn to make the first move, he thought, her need obvious to his nose.

Making her gasp, he reached over and grabbed her ass. Falling onto her back, she wrapped her legs around him, hands climbing to grip his shoulders. He lowered himself and rocked his hips, his red tip poking at her folds. Rather than fully thrusting into her, he let his rod part her slit. The bottom rubbed against her clit, becoming slick as she squirmed. His breath fell heavy and hot, his motions pushing harder and slower.

Her hips shook uncontrolled at his touch. It put a smile in the corners of his muzzle, this touch expert enough to make her writhe. Even so, she summoned enough sense to groan sentences to him. “You fucking tease. Just get in me already!”

“Please…?” he prodded, only poking her entrance with his tip.

“Oh, you bitch,” she whined, trying in vain to lift her hips to his. Careful, he made sure never to penetrate further than an inch into her. Just as he was about to thrust into her, he would return to rubbing her clit, but always pulling away before it would go too far. It left her balancing on edge but always pulled back from the ledge just as she was about to fly. “Fine! Please!”

“Wasn’t that easy?” he sighed smoothly, finally pushing deeper in.

“Oh, god,” she gasped, the sudden force reaching her furthest depths. His canine member burned hotter than any other she had felt; its tip tapered and pointed further as well.

Noel’s ego soared as he saw Sam’s ecstasy. His member emerged further as he pumped, savoring the feeling of human anatomy. Her entrance lacked the clenching muscles he was used to but made up for it in textures and ridges that embraced him so sweetly.

Finding a rhythm, he adjusted his waist slightly and hastened his pace. Despite the recency of their tryst, theirs was not entirely without passion. They met each other’s gaze and kissed, silently assuring one another of their enjoyment.

The sensations only built up, each soft slap sending another jolt through him. A massage of ridges and sparks, like steering a train towards an explosive stop. Becoming lost in the motion, he gripped her hips and guided her. Her lower half raised, he knelt on the bed and shoved himself deeper. She let out small grunts, his muzzle falling open as he panted. By then, the thrusts were hard enough that his fuzzy sheath bumped against her. His sensitive member reached deep, twitching as her walls began to move.

It felt like the textured walls had a will of their own. They pressed up and down his length, her hips gyrating to complement his motion. His fur bristled with the intensity and intimacy, all inhibitions or fears abandoned. It felt like tension was building in his sacrum; desperate for release but too good to end.

This anticipation only drove his haste, small groans vibrating in his chest. The moist caresses around him were a buzz of pleasure, an explosion that seemed just beyond his reach.

“Oh god, Noel,” Sam moaned, mouth remaining open as she closed her eyes. Her entire body twitched with pleasure, her nethers soaking and massaging the rod within them.

The electricity suffusing his member only redoubled, consuming his mind and building past any limits that felt they ought to exist. Pushing further from his sheath, he felt his tip tapping against a stimulating wall. Aching slightly but immensely satisfying, the base of his penis inflating and swelling into a knot. The bulb indescribably sensitive, he realized his climax now gripping him by the member. Her legs wrapped around him, pulling him in close.

He stifled a feral howl, collapsing atop her and thrusting as far as flesh would allow. That electricity became lightning, blinding flashes of pleasure rocking his entire body. Spurts of hot cum shooting forth that, worked by her internal motions. Though only a second, it dragged on wonderfully as the pleasure ebbed into and out from him.

She felt a similar but entirely different explosion of pleasure. It burned through her, jets of hot seed feeling like they washed over her deepest corners. Moaning through closed lips, her nerves blazed and swallowed both senses and thought.

Their climaxes left his tongue lolling and her form still squirming with fading pleasure; their lower halves stayed alight with bliss even as they slowed. He fell atop her, both their chests still heaving as they embraced and collected themselves. Still glowing, Sam buried her face in his fur and hugged him tightly. She could still feel the satisfying, warm fluids within her.

Not wanting children, the sensation might have worried her. However, even if either of them were fertile, they were two different species, wholly incompatible. This knowledge let her lie back and enjoy the feeling.

Noel panted, his knot still throbbed; aching, soaked, and full. He sighed and perked his ears as she ran her fingers through his fur, smiling at the pleasant touch. Mirroring the gesture, he gently brushed his claws along her side. That same inflated feeling that signified a successful night also meant they would remain together for a little longer. “That was… unexpected,” he chuckled, nuzzling her neck.

“Yea, but a great surprise,” she replied, placing a swift kiss against his nose. Her speech and movements were slow, her eyes still glazed as she enjoyed the fading warmth. “Though, I must say, I like the feel of a wolf,” she cooed, her touch lowering as she grabbed his ass.

“Well, this wolf really likes this human,” he returned, giving a quick nip to her shoulder.

“Glad it was good for us both,” she whispered, beginning to shift as his weight became uncomfortable upon her. He opened his muzzle to protest, but she moved away first. Their parts separated with a wet squelch; his knot not trapped as she lacked the clenching muscles of a lupine woman. A wave of scent filled the room, their musk and fluids open to the air. “Been a while,” she mused, adjusting a sheet as their combined juices leaked out slightly.

They sat for a moment, regaining their breath and composure. She leaned forward and touched her cheek to his shoulder. “Bathroom is the first door on the left,” she offered, noticing him slightly uncomfortable as he wiped sweat from his front.

“Thanks,” he said, tapping his nose to hers. As he stood and walked away, his stumbling gait reminded him of his still-inebriated state.

Collecting her clothing from the floor, Sam felt a twinge of relief as Noel walked off. Inviting others into her home was a new risk, let alone being so open and vulnerable with someone she respected. A moment of quiet to gather herself was like a breath of fresh air. She wrapped a robe around herself and closed her eyes, the sound of someone else showering in her home somehow unnerving. When they had to be coworkers the next day, she worried how she would approach this.

—The following morning was awkward and quiet. Sam had Noel spend the night on her couch, unready to share her bed for the mundanity of sleep. In the early morning, they both awoke with splitting headaches. After downing a few aspirins, he made his way out and back home, needing a new set of clothes before work.

She remained in the dark of her room for as long as she could, attempting to nurse the minimal hangover away with toast and an entire large bottle of water. When her final finally buzzed with an alarm, she grumbled and collected her work things.

On the walk to the labs, she focused on her work instead of the last night. She enjoyed the lab-work and process of the science. Completing their drug was a success, though she did not look forward to arguing that case with their administration. She would miss the actual experimentation and research, but the high of victory could carry her for a time. That confidence redoubled as she saw the large lab building standing like a marble monolith.

As she approached, she saw Noel emerging from the subway. He wore a pair of sunglasses balanced on his muzzle, his fur slightly ruffled and unkempt. Most could not tell, but she spent enough time to recognize when he was off.

“Morning, coworker. How was your evening?” she joked, strolling up beside him.

“Hey, Sam,” he said, his words almost muttered as he rubbed his brow. “How are you not in pain,” he grumbled, remembering the many more drinks she had taken, and looking up and down her smaller frame.

“Not my first party.” He chuckled at this but kept his gaze turned down. They shared a glance, but both looked away and hurried their paces, avoiding and conversation about their night after the drinks. “The hell is going on here?” she asked, both pausing as they turned.

Emergency vehicles idled around the lab, many of the company heads arguing amongst themselves. “Smells like cleaning chemicals,” he mentioned, averting his gaze from the higher-ups. “You know how it is, keep our heads down and do our jobs. Whatever weird shit the company elsewhere isn’t for us to see or meddle in.”

Nodding in agreement, she looked forward to the door with a veneer of localized blindness. They both swiped their way into the building and hurried ahead. “Are you ok?” she asked, seeing his ears fallen and tail low with pain.

“Turns out night vision only makes the lights hurt more?” he sighed, shielding his eyes even as he wore protective glasses. “About last night—”

“No!” she interrupted, her voice going as low as a whisper. “You want to talk about that? We do it after work. Here, we’re colleagues.” He nodded but seemed taken aback by the harshness with which she spoke. “It isn’t you, Noel. I’ve worked very hard to get here, and I’m going to fuck it up for a forbidden office romance.”

He nodded, and they entered the elevator, avoiding looking at one another. Once the doors closed, the silence between them grew. “So… we do have a romance?”

She flicked her wrist and struck his side, causing him to his in pain at the lash of anger. They both regained composure as the elevator came to a stop. When they stepped off, they were again a pair of cordial coworkers.

It immediately proved unimportant as they saw the hall. Workers and overseers stood about and hurried through the halls, sections taped off and forbidden. “It smells like chemicals… smoke and ruin,” Noel murmured, fur standing straight with fear. They crept carefully forward, overhearing maintenance staff describe the damages. A fire broke out in one of the labs, spreading quickly and jumping to the surrounding chemicals. Though the fire suppression systems activated, they were not fast or effective enough to douse the blaze before the more volatile compounds reacted. The ensuing blast destroyed its lab and the equipment within, also damaging much of the room above.

Both Noel and Sam shared an apprehensive glance, silently praying that their work remained undamaged by the accident. “Even if broken, we recorded our progress digitally. It’s a setback, but not a defeat,” Sam reassured, her words falling flat even to her ears.

They held their breath and begged silently for luck. The questions and confusion created a deep pit of fear in her gut. Stopping to ask for details of the event felt like a delay, as the extent of the damage was paramount. Even so, her steps felt heavy with every inch between her, and a relief of tension seemed an eternity.

Pushing through the caution tape, they moved towards their lab. None stopped them, much of the damages and dangers already assessed. God damn… she thought. They stared into the open doorway, aghast at the wreck within. Colored ashen grey by dust, the room stood in shambles, shards of glass and metal strewn about the space. A blast took the center of the room, reducing furniture and ceiling to rubble. Further away, the force and shrapnel shredded anything from computers to drywall.

“It’s all gone,” Noel murmured, his voice cold as he stumbled backwards.

Sam felt not the same crushing loss as he. She felt no disappointment, or sadness, or failure. She had not yet overcome the shock to feel anything beyond an empty numbness. Even if she could reason her way around it, the accident something they could recover from, seeing weeks of progress reduced to dust was utterly defeated.

“Come on… no good staring at it will do,” Noel offered, taking her shoulder and pulling her away. She made no resistance, following down the hall before he sat her down by a window. “You were right, you know. Just because the room was destroyed doesn’t mean our work has been,” he assured, looking pensively into the distance.

“If they let us. Chances are, we get blamed for this,” she catastrophized. More than the loss of progress, she feared the cause of the accident. Speaking to Noel helped, at least to distract her for a moment. “You wanted this to work out more than anyone. How are you so unfazed?”

“I am. It’s fucking terrible that we have to deal with this setback. But I don’t bet my pride on succeeding every challenge I take,” he said, causing her to pause, unsure if he was offering her insult or advice. “I joined this project to fight extinction; I didn’t expect to win. Even if there’s a setback, I need to see it through,” he offered, somehow finding the strength to rise above the situation. “Maybe I’m just in a good mood,” he added with a wry smile.

“Is that not talking about it?” she returned, a slight smile in the corner of her mouth as she accepted his distraction. “Though if I put you in a good enough mood to ignore all our work blowing up… That might be the best compliment I’ve ever received.” Though she chuckled with her partner, she could not help but overhear a pair of investigators.

She froze, her heart sinking as her worst fears were confirmed. Damages are caused by explosive chemicals exposed to open flame. Fire originated from the nearby trash can. Trace residues show the fire was started by a lit cigarette thrown away while alight. It was her fault.

“Come on, staring at rubble won’t do us any good. Bosses are going to want a report from us,” he said, standing and offering a hand. Though calm, a hint of exasperation and fear showed in his voice, revealing much of his confidence a show. Even with his attempt to help, he failed to recognize her silent panic, unaware of her unspoken fears.

They walked quickly from the chaotic hall, pushing past the gawking crowds. Some offered them looks of sympathy, but most were too focused on damages themselves. Sam appreciated the lack of attention, afraid they could all see her shame and guilt for the incident. When they entered the elevator, and the doors blocked these gazes, muffled the din of the crowd, she was happy to be alone with only Noel.

“It was my fault,” she whispered, reaching out and embracing his arm as if for security.

“What do you mean?” he asked, lowering his muzzle and softening his voice with concern. Even last night, she had not shown such vulnerability as here, almost in tears as she leaned on him for support. “You can’t blame yourself for—”

“It was me. The fire started because I threw out a lit one,” she explained, holding him tightly, as though she would fall away into the void without him. Even so, she felt tremendous guilt as though she did not deserve that compassion. When he wrapped his arms around her, she flinched, the warmth almost foreign when she expected anger. “Why? You said it yourself. You’re trying to fend off extinction, and I destroyed it.”

Shaking his head, Noel simply held her close. He understood that no words would help her. She let out a long sigh and closed her eyes, focusing on the warm touch.

Yet, as the elevator slowed to a stop, Sam broke away. By the time the doors opened again, she had steeled herself and looked unphased. Noel was surprised by how easily she could compose herself, wondering silently how often it had fooled him before. She walked quickly from the room, wanting nothing more than to leave the labs. The din of the crowd buzzed in her head like a swarm of bees. The air seemed a refuge from the chaos surrounding her.

However, it seemed not to be. As they approached the exit, an administrator approached and stopped them. “My sincerest apologies about your work,” he said without sincerity. “However, could you come with me? We need to talk to you both about the accident.” There was sternness and force to his voice which made it clear that this was no request.

“Of course,” Noel agreed, giving her a quick squeeze on the hand as reassurance. He had a knowing look. As if already planning the lies he intended to tell. No matter what, they would stick through this and protect one another.

The man was as unassuming as they came, with a face a detective could not pick from a crowd. Even so, he carried himself with confidence in his power that put Sam and Noel on edge. Talking was clearly an excuse; the man had already made his decisions and conclusions. All they could hope for now was to soften whatever punishment was to come. She suspected they would be all but demoted to assistants, possibly sent to search for work elsewhere. So long as they held fast and kept from incriminating one another, they could keep their licenses, keep their futures. She had to hold on to that belief.

Led into the dean’s office, they felt almost like they were in an interrogation, the head of the entire branch glaring them down. “You two aware of what caused that explosion?” he asked, his tone already accusatory.

Sam spoke first, knowing he would be naturally more inclined to pity a fellow human than a large wolf. “We know that a number of reactive chemicals caught fire and destroyed our lab,” she said, struggling to hold a confident façade.

“Our lab, Dr. Westfield, our lab,” the dean corrected, the door opening behind them as others entered. “And it wasn’t just that lab space that was damaged, but the one above as well.”

“And we’re truly sorry that happened, but—”

“But?” he interrupted, glaring back at her. “But you’re waiting to claim that this has nothing to do with you,” he guessed, the accuracy silencing her. “Did you think we wouldn’t check our security cameras to see the cause?”

Sam took an instinctive step back; the glare shot her way full of rage and hatred. Noel beside her twitched his lip, fighting the reflex to bare his teeth with fear. Even so, his ears stood alert. “I don’t… Even if a cigarette started the fire, that’s not the same as—” she stammered, struggling for any excuse.

“Actually, bringing airborne chemicals into a controlled environment, then disposing of them so carelessly… Or hiding that your partner had done all of that,” he said, turning towards Noel. “It could be considered gross negligence, putting both the cost and blame of the damages on both of you!”

“You can’t really—” Noel started, panic beginning to enter his voice.

“I can, actually. And charge you both,” he threatened, leaving them both silent for a moment. “Now, I know you two do not have the funds to pay us back for the damages you caused. Fortunately, your contracts detail a repayment method should you lack the funds.” A sickening fear forming in his stomach, Noel’s fur stood on end. There was something wrong with the man’s smile, something that set both he and Sam on edge.

Animal instinct responded quicker than his mind, his fangs gleaming as he lashed at whatever approached behind him. Sam was not as fast, yelping as someone grabbed her. The administrator simply waved as security apprehended the pair.

Flailing against the stronger man, she beat backwards with her elbows. Cries for help fell on deaf ears, her blows hardly phasing her attacker. Fear drove her strikes; one hand gripping her wrist to bruising, the other arm wrapping around her throat. She gagged, but only felt her life diming without air.

Then, the grip released. She gasped desperately; the air tainted with an acrid chemical odor. The release was only to push the rag against her face, her breath flooding her with dull haze. Her next sloppy blow fell limp against the assailant. No, gotta hold… breath… Her strength gave way as the grip tightened. Not… I’m… ssverry, Nolll, hllp me…